Two new cases of swine flu confirmed in France

PARIS (AFP) - Two new cases of swine flu have been confirmed in France, bringing to four the total number of people infected by the virus in the country, the health ministry said Monday.

A 24-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man who had just returned from a trip to Mexico were hospitalised in Paris to undergo antiviral treatment after tests confirmed they had contracted the illness.

Two other cases had already been confirmed in France on Friday while neighbours Britain, Germany and Spain have also been hit by the outbreak that has left 26 dead, all in Mexico except for one in the United States.

French health authorities are carrying out tests on eight other people suspected of being infected by the A(H1N1) virus. (AFP)